The transformation has been hailed as a pedestrian-friendly revitalization that will encourage shoppers to spend far more time salivating in and around the big-ticket boutiques of the Bloor-Yorkville neighbourhood. And there’s no doubt that “extensive tree plantings in innovative and sustainable soil cell systems, widened granite sidewalks, seasonal flowerbeds and attractive up-lighting for each tree” would enhance the experience of even the casual heel-toe commuter. But some are arguing that the effort to keep pedestrians in the area is making it more difficult for all other traffic (both auto and bicycle) to get through.

Daniel Egan, the city's manager of cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, said the narrower road and lack of parked cars would make the new Bloor better for cyclists, although activists disputed this.

Mr. Egan said traffic volumes - 30,000 cars a day - meant that the new narrower Bloor still needed four lanes and could not accommodate full-size bike lanes. However, he said the street could be retrofitted with bike lanes later.

The "Safe Cycling Coalition" has been granted permission to intervene in the lawsuit against the City (which argues that the City skipped important things like environmental assessments), which is a step forward for some cycling advocates in this city. Using the system will produce far more gains for the benefit of Toronto cyclists than rebelling against it.

One cyclist was arrested just after the start of the demonstration for obstruction and several traffic infraction tickets were issued. Staff Sgt. Brown of 52 Division says that the tickets are nothing out of the ordinary. However, cyclists feel that police presence during the rides has become increasingly aggressive.

It was the morning rush and I was on the sidewalk on King St. W., a U-lock in my hand, about to secure my bike to a post in front of my office. The "hey, you" startled me. The "you just broke the law" was incomprehensible. In all the years I had been cycling on the streets of Toronto – more than 30 – I had never been stopped by a police officer

The Igor Kenk Saga (which made international headlines) seemed to somewhat alleviate the frustration of Toronto cyclists in having their bicycles stolen only to find them show up in Igor Kenk's store a few days later. However, now Toronto cyclists get the frustration of the delays of the legal…

Following up on the post from earlier today, the Toronto Star has more details from the Metrolinx $50 billion Greater Toronto Area transit plan (I've excerpted the cycling stuff for you): There are about 100 projects in the plan. The key aspects include: ...2. An integrated cycling and walking…

The Toronto Star has a bit of the information coming from Metrolinx (the Greater Toronto Transportation Authority) today about a transit plan for the next 25 years: The plan, released today by Metrolinx, includes no recommendations for road tolls or other taxes to pay for the transit improvements that…

There are lots of bike lanes and paths in York Region and it's good exercise in decent weather, but cycling down Yonge St. can be a pretty scary proposition at the best of times. It's a good way to reach the TTC and there are now bike racks on many Red Rocket bus routes.

However, now Toronto cyclists get the frustration of the delays of the legal system as Kenk's trial has been delayed for 6 weeks so his lawyer can look at over 4,000 new pages of evidence:

In a brief court appearance this morning at Old City Hall, the accused bike thief was awarded a six-week adjournment so his attorney, Lon Rose, can review the thousands of documents involved in his case.

He also plans to ask for another one once that one has been completed, Rose said.

"I've been told there are over 4,000 pages," none of which have currently been provided to the defense, Rose told the court.

The Crown expressed "concerns" about the six-week delay, fearing the case would lose momentum. [Toronto Star]

"The second big move is the creation of a region-wide network of bicycle lanes," outlined Rob MacIsaac of Metrolinx. "Walking, cycling, roller blading and other mobility devices" could all use the routes, he expanded.

In a brief court appearance this morning at Old City Hall, the accused bike thief was awarded a six-week adjournment so his attorney, Lon Rose, can review the thousands of documents involved in his case.

With the right number of bikes at start-up—Boyce suggested one thousand as a bare minimum, but the audience thought five thousand was a more attractive number—and a network developed to follow (and expand upon) Toronto's existing bike infrastructure, a bike sharing system could easily succeed here.

Metrolinx hopes to spend $500 million on building 7,500 kilometres of on- and off-road bike lanes. It also wants a series of transportation hubs around the region to make it easy to transfer from one mode of transportation to another.

As an arterial street where car is king, Dundas forces suburban cyclists to make this decision: peddle on the sidewalk or compete for space with vehicles doing 70km/hr in the darkness of the overpass. I've stepped aside for many cyclists in this area. Pedestrians and cyclists share sidewalk space – I don't think too many walkers begrudge them for taking this route. It happens along other parts of Etobicoke countless times a day. I'm sure there are complaints and safety concerns about having bikes on sidewalks, but I'd wager that in a region of the city where cars are the preferred method of travel, pedestrians and cyclists are on the same side.

Originally posted by Jeremy over here: Well it just got stolen on September 23 around 5 pm and its an Infinity Invader Burgundy, i bought it at costco, it has Shimano brakes, and gears, also if the theft hasn't taken it off it has a red small loop lock.

Ms. McCallion set the standard for car-free day by donning a helmet and riding a simple blue bicycle marked with a licence plate reading "Mayor 1" to work. The 87-year-old Mayor said the seven-kilometre trip, from her home in Streetsville to the Mississauga Civic Centre, was "thoroughly enjoyable."

I just lost my 2006 Iron Horse Team FS. It was while I was at the gym today between 11:50 and 1:00PM today (Tuesday, September 23rd 2008.) The location was the Extreme Fitness Gym, at the intersection of Pape and Danforth Ave. The bike was locked with a thick cable lock right alongside the gym. It is a green-coloured 21" (inch) frame. Dual suspension and with front and rear mechanical disc brakes. It's Filzer bike computer bracket is still on the handle bar, I still have the computer itself in my pocket. Has detatchable mud guard for rear tire and an overhanging, small Specialized cargo pouch secured by straps beneath the seat. Any help would be appreciated. It was a good, reliable workhorse. Here is a pic of it without the small cargo bag on the seat, from a year or so ago.

...2. An integrated cycling and walking network with more than 7,000 kilometres of dedicated cycling lanes.

...5. A network of connected mobility hubs that will be more than simply train stations, according to MacIsaac. The bigger versions will be destinations in of themselves and they will all provide a way to connect various modes of transportation from heavy rail to biking.

Thankfully, cycling infrastructure is insanely cheap compared to subways, light rail, and pretty well every other transit option besides walking. Let's hope this translates into significant cycling infrastructure - as one can never tell how long money will flow from the Provincial and Federal levels of government to implement plans such as these.

The plan, released today by Metrolinx, includes no recommendations for road tolls or other taxes to pay for the transit improvements that are being called the most ambitions of our life time.

The experience of the other cities shows it is best to offer transportation alternatives before asking people to pay new fees, Metrolix chair Rob MacIsaac said...

When implemented in 25 years, 75 per cent of Toronto area residents would live within two kilometres of a dedicated transit line.

I can't find the full plan document online anywhere yet (when I do I'll let you know), but this sounds like excellent news for cycling in Toronto and the surrounding region. Having 75% of GTA residents within 2 km of a dedicated transit line can make cycling a preferred option for residents getting to those transit lines.

"A different type of cyclist is emerging - a cyclist who is not concerned about sport or how many gears they have on their bike but who simply wants to get from A to B, and look good doing it," says 29-year-old London cycle-chicster Caz Nicklin, who started cycling in the English capital little more than a year ago and quickly became frustrated by cycling's "geeky image."

For the next two weekends, as coordinator of the Tour de Greenbelt, Hastings-James and a number of volunteers will be leading guided bike tours through this expanse that stretches from Niagara to Cobourg and as far north as Tobermory. There are four routes in total -- one per day each weekend -- and each ride highlights a different area of the Greenbelt.

My son's bike was stolen this afternoon (September 22) from our backyard (Queen & Parliament area) while we were out. It is a black, medium-sized KHS Urban X (commuter-style) with a black carrier rack. It was locked to our iron picnic table with a cable lock and the back wheel was locked to the frame with a Kryptonite U-lock. The theft has been reported to the police. Any news/sightings would be appreciated.

I got my bike stolen last night (between Saturday SEP 20 and Sunday SEP 21 2008) on College Street, right in front of this nightclub called Suba (292 College st). I got there around 11 PM and I noticed the theft at about 1 AM. I hadn't locked it properly so they took the frame and the backwheel, and left the front wheel attached to the lock. The bike is a silver and black KHS Brentwood Mens 2007, 17" frame, Shimano breaks and 21 speeds. The original seat had previously been stolen so I replaced it some months ago with one of these black GEL seats. It has a black round bell on the left handle. The serial number is 461066235. I don't have a picture of it but this is the what the model looks like. The color is silver and black though

Above you'll see a photo of one of Toronto's most bike-friendly councillors, Joe Mihevc, trying out the brand new Vaughan Road Bike Lane (which runs from St. Clair East to Winona). From Joe's Newsletter: The City installed a new bicycle lane on Vaughan Road between St. Clair Avenue and…

There's a press release floating around today about a "coalition of cycling advocates" named the "Safe Cycling Coalition" being granted permission to intervene ("being able to present arguments or evidence defending the interests of people who are not parties to the legal proceedings but who face related problems") in…

The City of Toronto has just finished painting two new bikelanes! Specifically Pond Road up at York University (between Sentinel and Shoreham) and a big 2.5 km stretch on in Scarborough on Birchmount Road (between St. Clair East and Kingston Road). They are having Bike Lane Opening Events for these…

Advocacy for Respect for Cyclists is co-ordinating a ride and memorial in memory of the cyclist who was killed at Trethewey Dr. and Tedder St.: A cyclist memorial will be held this coming Wednesday September 17th for the cyclist killed on September 10th. Ride together from Bloor and Spadina, leaving…

The City installed a new bicycle lane on Vaughan Road between St. Clair Avenue and Winona Drive last month. The installation included a dedicated, signed bike lane with pavement markings on the north-bound side of Vaughan Road and a wide curb lane on the south-bound side. The wide curb lane is not considered a dedicated bike lane, but it will have signs installed indicating it is a bike route. The installation of the bikeway route signs were not part of this work, but should be installed later on in the Fall.

Parking on the north-bound side of Vaughan Road is not affected by the proposed bike lane and there currently is no parking on the south-bound side of Vaughan Road.

I am looking forward to trying out these new bikelanes the next time I'm in the area.

I have heard that some "advocates" in Toronto cycling circles are criticizing these new bikelanes, citing things such as the opening doors of parked cars encroaches on them, as well as that they're aren't many cyclists that use Vaughan Road.

Can you believe those reasons?

I can't.

Firstly, I agree that bikelanes right up against where cars park are a problem. New cyclists often forget about opening car doors (since they are usually pre-occupied with the moving vehicles on the other side fo them), and car occupants often forget to check for bikes before opening their doors. This is NOT a reason to abandon painting a new bikelane. New bikelanes create a sense of security for new and established cyclists alike, whether the "dooring" risk is present or not.

The argument that this bikelane is "not where cyclists are" does not make sense. Using this logic, there should never be bikelanes installed anywhere in the city (or the suburbs) where there are no cyclists. There are very few cyclists in places like Scarborough and North York because the roads are planned around the car. The installation of bikelanes in areas like this tell residents that the road is now safer for them if they are on their bikes.

Thanks for your work in support of "active transportation" Joe Mihevc. The more bikelanes the better, especially where cyclist numbers are low (for now).

In fact, it's essential for anyone biking from the mouth of the Humber River up the Humber Valley - as it's a connection between the lower part of the trail (by Humber Bay) to the upper part north of Bloor St.

On Thursday, September 18th, the Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation, the Clean Air Partnership and the Community Bicycle Network have organized a public forum with a series of presentations focused on sparking community discussion about public bike sharing in Toronto.

There's a press release floating around today about a "coalition of cycling advocates" named the "Safe Cycling Coalition" being granted permission to intervene ("being able to present arguments or evidence defending the interests of people who are not parties to the legal proceedings but who face related problems") in the merchant-sponsored lawsuit against the City of Toronto and the Bloor-Yorkville Business Improvement Association.

To make a long explanation a lot shorter for you, here's my quick synopsis of what has happened concerning this so far:

1. Bloor-Yorkville BIA wants to re-do Bloor Street to make it nicer for pedestrians, including more trees, more flowers, wider sidewalks, no parking, less traffic lanes. They are willing to donate millions of dollars towards this "transformation"

2. City of Toronto says "ok" and allegedly skips important environmental assessment process, although the BIA plan ignores things like placing bikelanes on this popular cycling street, or even making provisions for bikeracks.

4. The above-mentioned "Safe Cycling Coalition" applies for and is granted permission to intervene in the lawsuit - allowing them to make the case for bikelanes

I was planning to link to the news release, but I can't find it online anywhere (I received it twice via email), so I'm going to post it here for you:

Toronto Cyclists Take Battle for Safe Streets to Court

Coalition of Bicycle Advocates Intervene in Court Case

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASETUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2008

TORONTO: In what is likely the first intervention of its kind in Ontario legal history, a coalition of cycling advocates, the Safe Cycling Coalition, has sought and (yesterday) been granted the right to intervene in an Ontario court case.

The case, first brought to the Ontario Superior Court in August by certain downtown merchants, alleges that the City of Toronto violated the province's Environmental Assessment Act when it proceeded with the Bloor St. Transformation Project --- along Yorkville's so-called Mink Mile ---and failed to properly consult the public or to study alternatives.

"This is about one of Toronto's most valuable public spaces -- a $25 million 'transformation' of that space warrants public consultation," explains Margaret Hastings-James, a Bloor Street bike-commuter who began to advocate for bike lanes when hit, and nearly crushed, by a truck in 2002."The huge volume of pedestrian and cyclist traffic in this area demands an allotment of dedicated and safe space."

The intervening citizen advocate group, asserts that proper classification of the project would haveallowed cyclists the opportunity to highlight provincial laws that direct municipalities to ensure the safety of all roadway users by including features such as bike lanes.

"The Bloor St. Transformation Project does have some positive features for pedestrian traffic," said Angela Bischoff, lead contact for the Coalition. "Unfortunately the City has again forgotten cyclists. Motor vehicles will get about 15 meters in width ofthe public roadway, and cyclists will get zero. That's not fair, and it's certainly not safe."

According to a 2007 Toronto Public Health report, 440 people die in Toronto each year from the effects of traffic pollution.The same report indicated that the death toll could be reduced dramatically by investing in cleaner options such as mass transit and better cycling infrastructure.

"The battle for safer cycling conditions in Toronto has now reached a new phase," said Albert Koehl, a lawyer representing the group. "The urgency of problems like global warming and air pollution means we can no longer tolerate old-school approaches to fixing our inefficient and dirty transportation system. Bicycles are zero-emission vehicles that deserve a safe space on our roads."

In August 2008 William Ashley China Ltd. filed an action in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Divisional Court) for a declaration that the city's decision to proceed with the Bloor St. Transformation Project was illegal. On Sept. 9, 2008 the Safe Cycling Coalition applied to the Court foran order allowing it tointervene. The application was granted on Sept. 15.

The members of the Coalition include cycling advocates with over five decades of combined cycling advocacy experience. They include Angela Bischoff, Margaret Hastings-James, Hamish Wilson, Martin Reis, and Kristen Courtney.

The hearing of the case (William Ashley China Ltd. v. City of Toronto) is scheduled for Oct. 9, 2008.